The period in which the concert hall was built also coincided with the Catalan Renaixença, a period of rebirth for Catalan pride and heritage. Wealthy locals in particular took an interest in the newly built concert hall and made generous donations to support it.

As a result of these donations and the agenda of the donors themselves, the concert hall is now filled with details that commemorate Catalan culture and identity through its choice of techniques, materials, and symbolism.

It’s also the only European concert hall to be illuminated only by natural light. The impressive stained-glass ceiling and the way it is designed allows the Palau de la Música to use only natural light to illuminate the main concert hall during the day.

The stained-glass skylight is built as an inverted dome and uses colors suggestive of the sky and sun with a plethora of blues and golden tones. For concerts held at night, Palau uses and an amazing array of splendid chandeliers and other ornate lighting elements.

The building was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 as an example of the Catalan modernist movement that in 1997 along with the Hospital de Sant Pau.

The facade of the Palau is a tribute to classical music featuring the busts of the great composers Johann Sebastian Bach, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner.

The Palau de la Musica Catalana, as the name would indicate ( the palace of Catalan music in English) is devoted to promoting Catalán artists, but it has also hosted world-caliber musicians of the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Paco de Lucía, Norah Jones, Charles Aznavour, Julian Lloyd Webber, Claudio Arrau, Jacques Thibaud, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Jessye Norman.

How to visit El Palau de La Musica Catalana

You can always go and enjoy a concert if there is an act in town that tickles your interest, but you can also tour the concert hall if there are no concerts programmed.

You can either enjoy a non guided tour with an audio guide, which costs 10€ or a guided tour of the premises for 20€. The guided tour is of course a better option to get all the insider facts and details on The Palau, but if you prefer the audio guide and to explore freely, that is a fine option as well.

The visit, guided or unguided, takes around 50 minutes and when you are done you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee at the venue’s coffee house.

Where to eat at the Palau de la Música Catalana?

The Palau, actually features some very decent eating options on the premises. Whether you want breakfast, lunch, or just a drink after a concert or just because you are in the area, The Palau has something for you.

The Daily menu comes out to 12€per person, which is very affordable, so if you don’t have another restaurant you have your heart set on to eat at after your visit, eating at The Palau is a fine option.

Palau Cafe

Located in the foyer of the Palau de la Música Catalana, this modern cafe-restaurant offers modernized versions of a series of Catalonian classics. Made with fresh local products, the Palau Café offers breakfast service, an excellent daily menu, and a very varied menu with different dietary options.

The terrace of the Palau

Café Palau also has an excellent terrace in the Plaza del Palau, if you want to enjoy your meal or drink al fresco.

El Mirador

Conceived for special meetings and or private groups, El Mirador del Palau, is a very cozy and exclusive space located in the upper part of the Plaza del Palau, facing the façade. It enjoys the best views of any of the dining options at the Palau and the best service and food. Not exactly an option for small groups, but worth mentioning non the less.